Rubelli tells the story of silk

A new book, chronicling the life of the Rubelli family and the company's extraordinary textiles has hit the bookstores and is worth a celebration.



Last month at the DDB, Margaret Russell, Editor-in-Chief of Architectural Digest, joined Nicolo Favaretto Rubelli, CEO of Rubelli and Andrea Favaretto Rubelli, CEO of Donghia for a special presentation of the book.


“I’ll tell you a Venetian story spanning two centuries. Five generations, six brands, five continents: our history, yesterday, today and tomorrow.” - Alessandro Favaretto Rubelli

Rubelli: A Story of Silk in Venice, written by Irene Favaretto (sister of Alessandro), takes you through the history in photographs, archiving the company's work.



The book is on sale now, pick up your copy and indulge in the rich history.

About Rubelli Textiles:
Currently run by the fifth generation of the Rubelli family, the company produces and sells top end, high-quality furnishing fabrics - brocade, damask, velvet, silk and lampas.

3-way textile love at Donghia

We're falling in love with beautiful collections from LULU DK, Armani/Casa and Sacho, new to the Donghia Showroom at the PDC, and you can too. This Thursday the showroom will open its doors for a preview, reception and an opportunity to meet Lulu herself.

We asked Marketing Director Lindsey Morris what her faves were right now in the showroom.

She said she can't get enough of Finland in red by Armani/Casa, a mesmerizing plaid, Donghia’s Wild Night, a perfect combination of plaid and sparkle, and Grizzly, a faux fur by Sacho.

“The collections are reflective of the individual brand heritage allowing us at Donghia to showcase not only the best product but also how they seamlessly work together in a lifestyle setting,” said Lindsey.

Here's a taste of each collection:

LULU DK’s Eden Collection is steeped in the intricacies of nature and the beautiful nuances of what it has to offer. The line features twelve designs: six hand-drawn prints, three woven outdoors, and three solid linens.



Ocean by LULU DK



Faver by Armani/Casa

The theme of Armani/Casa’s collection by Rubelli is an imaginary voyage between east and west, from the occidental approach, to the features of the oriental culture. The inspiration to this collection arises from the influences that the east has given to the west for decades.



Fredonia by Armani/Casa



Leo by Sacho

Sacho’s collection Urban Safari is natural and artful as well. The collection features a sophisticated selection of imitation furs, velvets and other intricate weaves inspired by the uniqueness of nature including stunning imitations of fox, leopard, lynx, Persian lamb and ostrich, with warm and sensual textures and materials.



Grizzly by Sacho

Want to see more? Fall in Love with Textiles will take place at the PDC's Donghia showroom, Suite G196, on Thursday, October 4 from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

For more information on the Donghia Showroom and the collections, visit the website. If you're not in LA, stop by the DDB Suite 700 and DCH Suite 1000.

Join Lori Weitzner Thursday at the PDC

If you're lucky enough to know designer Lori Weitzner, you know that she's deeply passionate about her work. So it's fitting that she will be hosting a CEU-accredited presentation on "The Preservation of Passion" on Thursday at the PDC.

Weitzner will talk about her constant quest for new sources of inspiration and the process through which she finds inspiration and carries it through her design process into her finished products.

Her creativity references both the color palette of a single artifact as well as periods of time. Expect her to share tools that can help frustrated or new designers to find success.

“People often think that design is an indulgence – a luxury that is not a necessity.  On the contrary, design, when done holistically, is essential to the growth of our human spirit.”

Thursday, September 20 at Noon in the Blue Conference Room. Light refreshments to follow at Donghia (Suite G196). RSVP to marketing@WeitznerLimited.com

Studio visit: Suzanne Tucker Home

A few weeks ago, we ventured out to Brooklyn to meet Allison Kettlewell at her studio. The textile designer responsible for the lovely Suzanne Tucker Home fabrics previously worked with Donghia and Zimmer + Rohde. We were eager to hear about the process behind creating a fabric line, designed in Brooklyn, for a San Francisco-based designer. This year happens to be the 25th Anniversary of Tucker & Marks, the firm Suzanne started with her husband that now boasts a staff of 26 people. Here's what Kettlewell had to say.



"I make monthly trips out to the office in San Francisco. Most of our designs start from what Suzanne says she can't find in the market. Suzanne and I have a shared love of antique textiles, hand-stitching and translating the inspiration we gather on travels. I'm really a hunter and gatherer, and Suzanne is so attuned to the details -- like the ground cloth of a print and its quality."



"Truly, if I had to describe what differentiates us, it's that this is really a textile lover's line. No detail has been missed."

[We couldn't get enough of the amazing samples that fill her studio - hanging, folded, and amazingly orderly.]


"Even our plains aren't plain - like Vanessa [pictured below], with very subtle colors that you don't see at first glance, which make them more livable, easier to integrate into a space because they can "absorb" surrounding colors in the room."


"And Gabrielle, I call a weaving miracle. This design [pictured below] came from a tiny sample Suzanne found in Coco Chanel's private atelier."


"It's such a treat designing this line, because before when I worked with big fabric houses, I was always on a budget. But we introduce something when it's right, when the hand feels good and maybe has a tumbled feel, and the color saturation is right. Suzanne isn't conservative, but she's very thoughtful. She chose not to go the license route when she launched her fabrics, which certainly would have been easier."

This cotton-velvet Duma, is a perfect example of a touch-me hand. It was inspired by Suzanne's trip to Africa.



Check back soon when we'll share the rest of our visit - including all about color.

Have a look back at their new introductions from earlier this summer and from this Spring. See the finished product of their collaboration at Thomas Lavin at the PDC and Holland & Sherry at the DDB.

What did you do this summer, Chuck Chewning?

We caught up with Chuck Chewning, the creative director of Donghia since 2008, to find out about his Summer and what's in store for Fall. Chewing received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design and Historic Preservation of Architecture from Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), so it probably shouldn't be a surprise where he likes to visit for his summer...

Chewing sent along this picture from Savannah's Pulaski Square:



Chewning says, "Savannah was founded in 1733, the same time William Kent was designing in Britain. Savannah is full of historic homes, many with English-inspired interiors. Our Kent sofa design (below) is an homage to the English designer, a classic camel back that has been edited and modernized by fully upholstering the frame and giving it a Donghia arm."



"I'm most excited about Fall because it means getting the new collection into our showrooms. I'm excited to see how designers want to use Moondance. [See our tribute to the collection from last week here.] Our fall collection is inspired by mensware and the luxury of beautiful fibers and constructions. The color palette is quintessentially autumnal - a bit somber, and rich, including bronzes, olives and rust."



We can almost feel the cashmere sweaters now! Stop by Donghia at the DCH (Suite 1000), DCOTA (Suite C250), PDC (Suite G196), and DDB (Suite 700) to have a taste of the new collection!

What did you do this summer, Lulu?

This morning we introduced you to Lulu DK's new Eden collection, available at Donghia. Now we're thrilled to have her kick off a little series we pulled together to commemorate summer drawing to a close. We asked some of our favorite designers to share a peek, or memory, of their summer vacation. Herewith is what Lulu de Kwiatkowski had to say from her studio in California:



"Tides and Rainbow from our Eden collection are inspired by nature, fun and summer...like the spots of pastel colors that make summer alive. I love to mix the organic colors of nature with the pop colors of life. I love this picture (above) from my month in Porto Ercole, Italy, which exactly captures the color and playfulness of our new Eden collection while still holding the sophistication that everything in life should have a touch of. If you have ever been to Italy, you know how good the gelato is in its many color displays...balls of sorbet seemed to grace our many dinners and afternoon lunches...this was also the inspiration for these colors and fabric fan displays.


Tides


Rainbow

I always look forward to the "new year" that starts in September (particularly since I don't have to go to school anymore)! It is a time I get to put all my summer doodles and designs in action, whether making them into the next printed fabric line or prints for Matouk bedding, towels or tabletop...or revisiting paintings that I have created during the holidays. I am particularly looking forward to working on a documentary that I am painting for 10x10. It is a big project which will bring me back into making collages again (which I haven't really done since the creation of my book LULU). In any case stay tuned for more details on that!"

Thanks, Lulu! Be sure to check back soon for more late-summer envy as designers and creative types share the highlights from their summers. Don't forget to see all of the Eden collection at Donghia showrooms at the DCH (Suite 1000), DCOTA (Suite C250), PDC (Suite G196), and DDB (Suite 700). And be sure to check out her line for Schumacher at the DDB (Suite 832), PDC (Suite B489), DCH (Suite 4017) and DCOTA (Suite A-108).

We love Lulu, now at Donghia

Lulu de Kwiatkowski launched her Lulu DK line fourteen years ago, but her creativity continues to flourish. The California-based mother of three boys leaves us agog of her energy level, not to mention her figure, with new collections arriving almost simultaneously earlier this summer at both Donghia and F. Schumacher. Of the two concurrent windows in the lobby of the DDB, she said: "I waited years to get a window at the D&D, and now I have two at once!"

Today we're sharing her new Eden collection, which consists of eleven designs. Six are original hand-drawings the New York-raised, California-based artist made especially for fabric, three are outdoor wovens and two are solid linens. They're all now available through Donghia at the DCH (Suite 1000), DCOTA (Suite C250), PDC (Suite G196), and DDB (Suite 700).

Rainbow speaks to the wide color range of the line:


Ivy is a terrific small-scale design:


A fresher take on neutrals? Try one of the metallics:


Harlow is one of three outdoor fabrics. Lulu claimed they felt like cashmere, and she's right - you have to feel for yourself:


Breeze and Paris are two of the linens which stand apart for their lovely colorations which reflect their painterly beginnings:



And, for a bolder choice, try one of the designs in a moodier colors. We're loving the

Rubelli's illustrious history in print

Rubelli, the Venetian fabric house represented by Donghia in the US, is known for their rich silks. So it's fitting that the cover of its biography, Rubelli. A Story of Silk in Venice (pictured above, published by Marsilio) is a graphic representation of its San Marco silk damask.

Opera costumes by Carlos Tieppo:


The company was established in 1889, when Lorenzo Rubelli took over Giobatta Trapolin’s firm, renowned for its production of braid, two-pile velvet, soprarizzo, lampas and brocade as reproductions of antique fabrics. This book traces the fortunes of the textile creations of the Rubelli family worldwide, spanning five generations and continents and six brands.

Eduardo de Filippo in the Rubelli shop in Bari:


The book tells the story of Lorenzo and his son Dante Zeno, how they expanded the production and trade of fabrics in Italy and Europe, and the varying fortunes of the Venice firm which, during the First World War, forced Dante Zeno to move looms and workforce to Florence to protect their safety.

Silks await weaving:


Production was diversified over the years, moving towards a more contemporary style yet without ever abandoning the themes which had made Venetian textiles famous over the centuries. Rubelli worked with eclectic artists such as Guido Cadorin and Umberto Bellotto and later Vittorio Zecchin and Gio Ponti. The company’s fabrics were displayed with success first at the various International Decorative Arts Exhibitions at the Villa Reale in Monza and later at the Venice Biennale and Milan Triennale, and were also used for high-status commissions, such as the furnishing of the royal train in 1928.

The fifth and sixth generation of Rubellis:


After the Second World War, Alessandro Favaretto Rubelli took over from his grandfather Dante Zeno and started to edit a Rubelli collection, introducing a distinctive style. The hand-loomed velvet was chosen by famous names in fashion such as Roberta di Camerino, who used them to create the label’s exclusive bags (there is a famous picture of Princess Grace of Monaco from 1958, on an official visit to Venice, with the legendary Bagonghi bag).

Maria Umilta, the wife of Dante Zeno:


The author, Irene Favaretto, is the sister of Alessandro Favaretto Rubelli and aunt of Matilde, Lorenzo, Nicolò and Andrea.. She was formerly a professor of the history of archaeology at the University of Padua,. She is also the author of almost two hundred publications on subjects relating to Greek and Roman art, the history of collections of antiquities and the tradition of classical art in the art and culture of the Veneto region.

Rubelli on stage at the opera:


Stop by Donghia showrooms at the DCH (Suite 1000), DCOTA (Suite C250), PDC (Suite G196), and DDB (Suite 700) to see classic Rubelli and how the company continues to make glorious textiles relevant for today.

Visiting Venice? Don't miss the Biennale.

The Venice Biennale opens next Monday, and if you're lucky enough to be in Italy for work or pleasure, you should make your way over to Palazzo Corner Spinelli, the historical headquarters of textile house Rubelli. Partnering with fellow Italians Molteni&C, Rubelli will host an exhibition that plays homage to Gio Ponti.

Vivere alla Ponti will feature reissued Molteni furniture, including a limited edition armchair designed by Ponti for his home in Milan. They will be upholstered in Rubelli's Punteggiato and Rattoppatto velvets, which were also designed by Ponti and shown at the 1934 Biennale.


Punteggiato, a chiselled velvet with a geometrical design on a metal background


Rattoppato, a velvet with abstract graphics

Both velvets are part of the Rubelli velvet and damask collection designed by the legend of 20th century architecture. The exhibition will also feature drawings and original blueprints. It will run through September 28, Monday to Friday, 10-6.

Van Morrison at Donghia!

That's one way to get your attention! And it's not really a lie...Donghia's Fall collection is called Moondance, a reference to the singer's song. In fact the entire new collection, 16 designs in all, references Van Morrison's songs and even his birthplace (Belfast, a voided velvet design inspired by mensware pictured above, available in five colors). Chuck Chewning, creative director of Donghia, was kind enough to show us the new collection, which will be in the showrooms any day now.

Gloria:

The color palette of Gloria references back to Donghia's Spring/Summer collection (thankfully we don't have to overhaul our pastel color scheme just yet!). The inspiration for the design came from a painting on wax paper. The warp print with an ikat effect casts an ethereal mood, as drapery or decorative touches.

Moondance:

Our personal favorite, Moondance, has a woven almost-ikat pattern in a polyester-silk that evokes the glowing moon at night. Can't you just hear the song playing in the background? It comes in eight colorways, and wouldn't it make a terrific wallcovering?

Natalia:

The graphic Natalia, a voided velvet, was inspired by tie in the Donghia archives - our guess is classic 70s! It comes in three colorways.

Wild Night:

Think tweed is too stuffy? Channel the vibe with one of these five colors. Woven wool is washed to removed some of the metallic foil finish of Wild Night, leaving a large scale plaid design that we'd love to use on a sofa.

Stop by and see about incorporating a little Van into your next interior, at the DCH (Suite 1000), DCOTA (Suite C250), PDC (Suite G196), and DDB (Suite 700).

Sahco's wild side

New for Fall, Sahco presents a collection called Urban Safari. Featuring faux furs, velvets and other alluring textures, the 12 fabrics come in a palette inspired by nature and the materials they capture. It's the ethical way to add a dash of fox, leopard, lynx, ostrich and Persian lamp to an interior.

Nandu, pictured above is available in five colors. A three-dimensional surface and gloss accents captures the look of ostrich leather, with its easy-care, durable properties making it ideal for tight upholstery. It can also be made flame-retardant for commercial applications.

Persian:

Persian, available in four colors, starts out woven as a plain velvet in viscose. It's then piece-dyed and hot embossed to look like Persian lamb.

Grizzly:

It's hard to believe Grizzly, virtually indistinguishable from real fur, is actually a woven. Only available in this one colorway, it offers a variety of tones to complement a range of palettes. Grizzly will also be available for purchase as throw. (It's at the top of our wish list!)

Zambia:

The jacquard velvet Zambia, available in four colors, has a Sahara-meets-ikat effect. A viscose "web" contrasts with the light base and makes a statement on upholstery.

Stop by and "pet" the entire new collection, encompassing nearly 50 colors, at Donghia showrooms at the DDB (Suite 700), DCH (Suite 1000), DCOTA (Suite C250), and PDC (Suite G196).

Porta Romana finds a new home at the DDB

This week, Donghia announced that it would take over representation in New York, at the DDB, of Porta Romana, the luxury British lighting, furniture and accessories company. The brand has had a U.S. presence since 2006, and is available through the Donghia showroom at the PDC. Previously Porta Romana was represented through Zoffany at the DDB. Here's an assortment of their latest lighting designs:


Porta Romana's collections now accompany those of Donghia, Rubelli and Sahco, in Donghia, Inc.'s 18,500 square-foot flagship showroom in the DDB.




Porta Romana Director of U.S. Sales Jack Bentley said of the partnership, "We are thrilled to have found our New York City home with an iconic American brand such as Donghia and to expand our presence in other markets."

"Porta Romana's aesthetic fits perfectly with our own," said Donghia, Inc. President Crans Baldwin. "Our designs speak to the history and tradition of our namesake Angelo Donghia just as Porta Romana keeps to the originality and highest quality established by their founders, Sarah and Andrew Hills (pictured below), over twenty years ago."

Based in Surrey, England, Sarah and Andrew Hills continue to oversee the design and creation of every Porta Romana piece.